Steppenwolf achieved not only great commercial success, but created music, innovation, and even phrases that have become culturally iconic and unforgettable. They were the first to use the term "heavy metal" in a rock song, in BORN TO BE WILD with the lyrics: “I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder."

They were easily one of the hardest rocking bands of the 60s and is there better music to listen to heading down the highway with the top down? 

BORN TO BE WILD is much more than simply a famous rock song. After being used in the opening credits of the movie EASY RIDER, it became a late 60s counter-culture anthem, not only for bikers but symbolically for anyone who wanted to break away from the oppression of "the man" and escape a humdrum, everyday life. Buzzsaw guitars, pulsating rhythm, it's the perfect rocking driving song.

And while many influential hard rock bands did not have commercial Top 40 success, Steppenwolf did, adding psychedelic sounds and mixing them with rock and pop approaches. Along with BORN TO BE WILD, MAGIC CARPET RIDE, and ROCK ME became Top 10 hits. They also achieved gold album status for several LPs.

In writing songs, John Kay also pushed his lyrics into political commentary and social criticism. The band notably covered Hoyt Axton's anti-drug song, THE PUSHER, and in 1969 Kay wrote several songs on the album MONSTER that took aim at Richard Nixon at a time when social unrest in America and the Vietnam war were igniting protest. Steppenwolf not only rocked, they railed against the establishment.

Today, when you think of memorable classic rock songs, both BORN TO BE WILD and MAGIC CARPET RIDE come to mind. MAGIC CARPET RIDE, combining psychedelic rock with a powerful vocal, influencing generations of musicians to come from rockers to rappers. BORN TO BE WILD and MAGIC CARPET ride are as well known today as they were 50 years ago, a remarkable achievement and one more reason that Steppenwolf deserves to be enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.